Cavan Bord Bia protestor praises IFA and its members for support

Bord Bia 5 protestor praises local IFA members and management for support throughout protest

MOUNTNUGENT farmer, Richard Moeran, says the 28-day protest he took part in at the offices of Bord Bia would not have been possible without the support of his fellow IFA members.

The sheep, beef and tillage farmer from Farren Cullen praised IFA management and grassroots members for their unwavering support in the past month.

Speaking to Celt from his farm this morning, Mr Moeran said: “The IFA from Francie Gorman down made sure the support was there for us.

“If I thought the leadership – inside and outside of that building wasn’t there – I would’ve walked away on day one.”

Richard Moeran explained how a contingent of IFA members stood in support of the Bord Bia 5 outside the agency’s HQ for 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the month-long protest.

The IFA members outside stood in solidarity on shifts lasting from 7am until 11am, 11am to 6pm, again at 6pm to 11pm and then for the ‘graveyard shift’ overnight until 7am the following morning.

Food and supplies also had to be delivered to the three men and two women protesting in the Bord Bia HQ.

“We couldn’t have done it without them,” a grateful Richard Moeran said this morning, “Cavan drew the short straw for the graveyard shift on Saturday and 24 men and women from County Cavan came down to support us. It was extraordinary.

“From a logistics point of view for the IFA to rally its members and coordinate round-the-clock support was extraordinary. They made sure the support was there.”

Mr Moeran paid tribute to IFA President Francie Gorman, Deputy President Alice Doyle, and Treasurer Patrick McCormick who was also one of the Bord Bia 5.

He also praised the efforts of Ulster/North Leinster Senior Regional Executive of the IFA, John O’Hanlon, and Padraig McMahon from Stradone as they “have hardly been home for the past month as they drove up and down the country”.

“The protest would not have been possible without the support of all these people and the farmers and IFA members who attended meetings, stood with us and gave up their time,” Richard Moeran told the Celt.